FISI
Financial Institutions, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$696M
5Y Perf.+99.8%
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Stock Comparison
FISI vs CNOB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CNOB
ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$1.52B
5Y Perf.+105.7%
FISI vs CNOB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FISI | CNOB |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $696M | $1.52B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $378M | $606M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $75M | $80M |
| Gross Margin | 61.7% | 44.2% |
| Operating Margin | 24.2% | 18.6% |
| Forward P/E | 8.9x | 9.3x |
| Total Debt | $334M | $1.17B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $109M | $92M |
FISI vs CNOB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FISI
CNOB
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Instituti… (FISI) | 100 | 199.8 | +99.8% |
| ConnectOne Bancorp,… (CNOB) | 100 | 205.7 | +105.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FISI vs CNOB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FISI leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FISI
Financial Institutions, Inc.
The Banking Pick
FISI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.01, yield 3.4%
- Rev growth 43.1%, EPS growth 231.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.01, Low D/E 53.1%, current ratio 1.00x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CNOB
ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.
The Banking Pick
CNOB is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 111.5% 10Y total return vs FISI's 69.0%
- Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FISI's 0.4% (lower = leaner)
- Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FISI's 0.4%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FISI | 43.1% NII/revenue growth vs CNOB's 13.4% |
| Value | FISI | Lower P/E (8.9x vs 9.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CNOB | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FISI's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | FISI | Beta 1.01 vs CNOB's 1.10, lower leverage |
| Dividends | FISI | 3.4% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs CNOB's 2.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | FISI | +40.9% vs CNOB's +33.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CNOB | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs FISI's 0.4% |
FISI vs CNOB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLFISILAGGINGCNOB
CNOBConnectOne Bancorp, I…
0leads
FISIFinancial Institution…
6leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CNOBMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
FISI4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
FISI4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
FISI9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
FISI4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
FISI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
FISI2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FISI leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CNOB is the larger business by revenue, generating $606M annually — 1.6x FISI's $378M. FISI is the more profitable business, keeping 19.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CNOB's 13.3%.
| Metric | FISIFinancial Institu… | CNOBConnectOne Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $378M | $606M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $97M | $122M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $75M | $80M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $16M | $102M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.7% | +44.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.2% | +18.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.8% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +16.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +118.9% | +53.1% |
FISI leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
FISI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.8x trailing earnings, FISI trades at a 52% valuation discount to CNOB's 20.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, FISI's 10.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CNOB's 23.0x.
| Metric | FISIFinancial Institu… | CNOBConnectOne Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $696M | $1.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $921M | $2.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.79x | 20.38x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.86x | 9.34x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.04x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.09x | 23.01x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.84x | 2.50x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.14x | 0.97x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 51.16x | 15.02x |
FISI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FISI leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FISI delivers a 12.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $5 for CNOB. FISI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.53x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CNOB's 0.74x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FISI scores 6/9 vs CNOB's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FISIFinancial Institu… | CNOBConnectOne Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.3% | +5.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.2% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.7% | +3.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.6% | +1.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.53x | 0.74x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $225M | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $109M | $92M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $334M | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.69x | 0.39x |
FISI leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
FISI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FISI five years ago would be worth $12,624 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,900 for CNOB. Over the past 12 months, FISI leads with a +40.9% total return vs CNOB's +33.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FISI at 35.0% vs CNOB's 31.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FISIFinancial Institu… | CNOBConnectOne Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.7% | +16.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.9% | +33.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +146.0% | +126.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.2% | +19.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +69.0% | +111.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +35.0% | +31.3% |
FISI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FISI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FISI is the less volatile stock with a 1.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CNOB's 1.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | FISIFinancial Institu… | CNOBConnectOne Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.01x | 1.10x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.66 | $30.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $24.41 | $21.79 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.1% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.4 | 66.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 117K | 352K |
FISI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
FISI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FISI as "Hold" and CNOB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 12.7% upside for CNOB (target: $34) vs 1.8% for FISI (target: $36). For income investors, FISI offers the higher dividend yield at 3.44% vs CNOB's 2.10%.
| Metric | FISIFinancial Institu… | CNOBConnectOne Bancor… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $36.00 | $34.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.4% | +2.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.22 | $0.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +0.1% |
FISI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
FISI leads in 6 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
Best OverallFinancial Institutions, Inc. (FISI)Leads 6 of 6 categories
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FISI vs CNOB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FISI or CNOB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) is the stronger pick with 43. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 4% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB). Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (8. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB) a "Buy" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — FISI or CNOB?
On trailing P/E, Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. at 20. 4x. On forward P/E, Financial Institutions, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FISI or CNOB?
Over the past 5 years, Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) delivered a total return of +26. 2%, compared to +19. 0% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CNOB returned +111. 5% versus FISI's +69. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — FISI or CNOB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 01β versus ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning CNOB is approximately 9% more volatile than FISI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 74% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FISI or CNOB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) is pulling ahead at 43. 1% versus 13. 4% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Financial Institutions, Inc. grew EPS 231. 3% year-over-year, compared to -15. 9% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — FISI or CNOB?
Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 8% net margin versus 13. 3% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FISI leads at 24. 2% versus 18. 6% for CNOB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FISI leads at 61. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is FISI or CNOB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) trades at 8. 9x forward P/E versus 9. 3x for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. — 0. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CNOB: 12. 7% to $34. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — FISI or CNOB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) offers the highest yield at 3. 4%, versus 2. 1% for ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (CNOB).
09Is FISI or CNOB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Financial Institutions, Inc.
(FISI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 01), 3. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FISI: +69. 0%, CNOB: +111. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between FISI and CNOB?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: FISI is a small-cap high-growth stock; CNOB is a small-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
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(FISI: 43.1% · CNOB: 13.4%)Net Margin>
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(FISI: 19.8% · CNOB: 13.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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